Kreanus (Part 4 of 4)

Posted on 21 Dec 2016 @ 3:38am by General ('aj) Ko'raH House of G'Iogh & Commander Medara t'Keras & Commander Luke Wyatt & Lieutenant Amaranai Franklin
Edited on on 21 Dec 2016 @ 3:47am

2,002 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 12 - Recluse
Location: Paulson Nebula/Kreanus
Timeline: MD 05 - 1550 hrs

Previously, on Kreanus (Part 3)...

Allyndra waved to others, "Volunteers to help. Take injured to the infirmary, I will be there shortly. Tuula and the rest will get started." She turned her attention to the Romulan briefly to see if there was an objection to which she would object but so far so good.

With a sagging Mimi in tow, Noah directed himself and Yasmin in the direction indicated by the CMO.

Martin piped up "Doctor I may have a diminished lifting capacity to what I could if I hadn't injured my back in school but I can help out with some of the lighter loads. Also one of your doctors, I think Tuula, had a rib broken in the investigation ma'am, I wasn't able to do much but strap it with my under shirt."

"Understood, just get people that need attending to infirmary and the rest get settled. I will be there shortly." Allyndra tried to look like a real command officer standing straight and confident though her head hurt like a thousand little demons with hammers were pounding away.

"Yes Ma'am!" Martin said he smiled, he liked this officer and hoped that he would be transmitting her orders to the ship's NCO's as she made it fun to follow."

And Now, the Conclusion...

[ON]

Virginia NCC-80010/3

Luke watched the Klingon ships disappear into the hole in the ground before powering up the shuttle just enough so they could land at what appeared to be a near by weather monitoring station in hopes that it lead underground. "How are you holding up?" he asked, Luke himself had fallen asleep mid flight and powerless to do anything but now they were heading somewhere he could do more than just be a passenger.

Amaranai had woken up when she noticed the power returning to the shuttle. She looked around, dazed, initially, and then remembered what had happened. She returned to the co-pliot's chair as Luke asked his question.

"I'm okay," she said. "I guess."

She looked out the viewport.

"Where are we?"

"We're on the southern Hemisphere above what I can only describe as large underground complex, the scanners can only penetrate so far." He nodded in the direction he was looking "We'll settle down next to the weather station, gear up and check the place out" Luke gave her a small smile "And then we can get our people back because I don't know about you I'm ready to kill something."

Amaranai forced a chuckle. Despite her training in security and tactical, she didn't like taking a life. She had done so, of course, over the course of her duties, and on the holodeck millions of times, but for her, taking a life, regardless of the circumstances, didn't always sit well with her.

"I think I'd like to hurt whoever did this to us," she offered. "Hurt them bad."

Luke didn't reply, the weight of what they would have to accomplish to rescue the crew lingered in the air like a stale smell. With the snow and different pockets of air pressure luke had to wrestle the shuttle and mostly use his eye sight t o navigate however It didn't take long for Luke to land the shuttle. In the snow it barley even caused a bump as the landing struts met with the surface. Standing up the main console powered down leaving only a low level light "We should dress warm, the temperature is just below freezing and the weather station is a short hike from here, I couldn't afford us being seen"

Amaranai nodded. She hoped that there would be enough warm clothes and survival gear in the shuttle for what could be a suicide mission. They had no idea what to expect in the facility or even where to look for the crew. Instead, they were just going to have to wing it and hope a plan could formulate on its own.

"It's better to stay hidden as long as possible," Amaranai said.

She stood and limped to the back of the shuttle to start preparing for the journey to the weather station.

Luke watched her movement with a frown, "Are you sure you can make it to the weather station? We both got pretty banged up" he said motioning across his body at the tattered clothing, he was looking forward to putting something else on and going for a walk. "I can always go alone" he offered but knew she wouldn't take it. He had made his way to the back and began shoving supplies into a small daysack. Water, Rations, extra gloves, a blanket, torch, phaser, phaser cells and a few other supplies such as rope.

Amaranai could feel the pain in her leg but dismissed it, just as quickly as she stared at Luke when he suggested she stay and let him go on alone.

"I'm not going to let you have all the fun," she said, forcing a smile past her pain. "I might be a bit slower, but I'm coming. I just joined this crew and I'm not about to lose them."

She paused as she grabbed her own pack and placed a few extra supplies into it. When she was ready, she moved to the console and pressed a few buttons. She locked the computer core with her command codes in case anyone were to find the shuttle.

"Okay," Amaranai said. "Let's do this."

Opening the shuttle hatch, Amaranai was caught off guard by the cool air. She was grateful for the heavier clothes.

Luke's teeth chattered as he stepped out into the cold, he turned quickly to close the door to the shuttle and holstered his weapon, "Damn it is freezing" He said more to himself than anyone. Luke had landed the shuttle in a large bowl like crater it was covered with a blanket of snow which made the ascent to the top difficult.

Shivering and with her teeth starting to chatter already, Amanranai nodded. She looked at what they were facing and rather than complain, she simply went about the slow task of climbing out of the crater.

Heaving himself up and out Luke scanned the horizon, through the light sprinkling of snow which was currently falling he could make out the complex of the weather station the main antenna sticking out like a sore on the surface. "It doesn't look too far, we'll make it in an hour or so, depends if this snow stays away"

It took some time before she made it to the top and paused for a moment to catch her breath. She looked toward where Luke had mentioned and saw the spire thrusting up from the ground. She nodded again and hefted the pack up further on her shoulders.

"I wish it would just warm up a bit," she said.

"I coldn't agree more" He said as they made there way towards the spire, "I'm sure it'll be warmer as we get going if not I'll make a fire when we arrive can't have you freezing" Though Luke knew he couldn't survive the cold any better, he hated the cold.

For a while neither spoke, just the mild word of encouragement when the snow decided to change direction or got heavier. "Not long, about half way" He said as he looked up and saw the spire closer than before "How are you holding up?"

As Amaranai struggled to move through the snow and terrain, she could feel the pain in her leg getting sharper. She knew that she should stop to rest, but there wasn't any time. The brunette heard the statement about their location, so she knew she would just get over the pain and continue on.

"I'm in a little more pain than when we started," she said. "But I'll live and eventually my leg will be fine."

She paused.

"Maybe, when we get to the station, there will be some hot cocoa."

Luke was starting to get worried "Maybe we should stop for ten minutes, the thought of hot cocoa has made me miss the warmth and I think this is a better place than any" He scanned the area and they were between two large hills and to their right was a weather worn hole in the rock face.

Amaranai wanted to keep going but knew that Luke was right and she should rest. Nodding, she looked around and noticed the same hole in the rocks that Luke had seen and slowly made her way. Once there, she took her pack off and sat down, stretching her leg out.

"If we stay out in this cold too long, we're going to freeze to death," she started. "Let me rest my leg just for a few minutes and then we'll get going again."

Luke didnt argue, infact he did actually need a rest himself. The last 24 hours had been pretty rough and he hadn't gotten much sleep in the shuttle, his body was aching all over and his mind was working over time. Taking off his bag he opened it up and revealed a small canister like object. Unscrewing the lid he presented it to Amaranai "Here drink this, its not exactly hot cocoa but it'll warm you up."

She took the liquid and sipped it. It was like a lemon tea. Not the best taste, but it was warm and that was what mattered. She nodded her appreciation and then sat back to rest for a moment.

Luke took a swig of the warm lemon tasting ration hot beverage and cringed... he hated lemons, especially warmed up. "We should get going again" He said putting the drink in his bag, zipping it up and shouldering it all in one fluid motion. "I promise its not that far and when we get there I promise to find some hot cocoa for you" He teased.

Standing up, Amaranai pulled her pack onto her shoulders and started moving again. She heard Luke's comment.

"Right," she huffed. "Cocoa first. Rescue second." She paused a moment and smiled. "I like that plan."

The rest of the journey went without hitch, though they did stop a couple of more times drinking the sickly lemon tea and munching on the cold ration packs. Luke made it out as if he needed the rest and though he was tired he could have gone the entire way but for Amaranai's sake he made it out that he needed the stops. As they approached the metal structure which was much larger than he thought Luke drew his phaser. "Well here goes anything" he walked into the door.

Amaranai dealt with the cold as best she could but she wished that she could just be back on the ship, sleeping in her bed. They stopped a few times to rest and as much as Amaranai insisted they should continue, Luke stopped. Eventually they reached the weather station. When Luke entered the building, Amaranai was surprised they were able to enter so easily.

Luke studied the room which was mostly empty with some dust sheets covering control consoles and monitor screens. Empty boxes were strewn across the space like whoever was lifting got bored of packing and had just left. There was only one other door which seemed to lead to a stair case leading down.

It was strange that the place was empty but Amaranai was happy for it. No one around meant that they didn't have to deal with any Klingons. She saw the stair case leading down and looked to Luke.

"Down the hatch?" she said.

Luke nodded gravely before replying "Down the hatch, I think it's time we got or crew back" and with that he began making the decent into the facility.

She wasn't sure what they were going to find but she knew that there was no turning back.

[OFF]

--

LCDR Luke Wyatt
Strategic Operations Officer
USS Galileo

LTJG Amaranai Franklin
Asst. Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

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